Interstate 55 North - I-70 to Springfield

Interstate 55 north

Immediately beyond the split with Interstate 70 east is the Exit 20B loop ramp onto Interstate 270 west. Interstate 270 ventures west from Glen Carbon to Granite City and Ferguson, Missouri. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Northbound motorists along Interstate 55 stay just east of the Edwardsville suburbs on the two mile drive to Illinois 143. Springfield and Chicago follow at 77 and 270 miles respectively. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 143 (Veterans Memorial Drive) joins Interstate 55 with the city center of Edwardsville to the west of the Exit 23 diamond interchange. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Governors Parkway splits with Illinois 143 just west of Exit 23 to encircle the south side of Edwardsville through to University Drive by the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) campus. Photo taken 12/20/09.

East from Exit 23, Illinois 143 travels a rural course to Marine and Highland. The 32-mile route ends at Alton to the west and Beavercreek to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 briefly enters the city limits of Edwardsville at Exit 30. Beyond the on-ramp from IL-143 is this reassurance marker and a wide swath of farm land. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Rest areas line both sides of Interstate 55 north of the Maple Road over crossing. The northbound side facility includes a welcome center for travelers that entered Illinois from Missouri. Photos taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 140, a 65-mile route between Alton and Vandalia, crosses Interstate 55 at the Exit 130 diamond interchange in one mile. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Exit 30 lies within the village of Hamel. Illinois 130 follows State Street through the community of 816 on the 12 mile drive west to Bethalto. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Northbound at the Exit 30 off-ramp to Illinois 140 (State Street). Alhambra is six miles to the east, followed by Greenville in 20 miles. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Continuing northeast from Hamel, Interstate 55 overtakes the four-lane route of U.S. 66 through to Livingston. Frontage roads remain in use along portions of the the final U.S. 66 alignment while the previously used route ties in from Illinois 157's north end in Hamel. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 4 travels 23 miles north from Lebanon to meet Interstate 55 at a diamond interchange (Exit 33) in one mile. This stretch of IL-4 was originally numbered as Illinois 43. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 angles northeast across Illinois 4 to Livingston as the state route continues due north six miles to Staunton. The first alignment of U.S. 66 utilized Illinois 4 north from Hamel to Gillespie, Carlinville, Auburn, Chatham and Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 northbound reaches the Exit 33 off-ramp to Illinois 4. Possum Hill Road ties into IL-4 nearby from Worden.Illinois 4 goes for 160 miles from Illinois 13 in Jackson County to Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Nearing the village of Livingston, Interstate 55 passes under the Alhambra Road overpass as historic U.S. 66 follows the westbound side frontage road to Veterans Memorial Drive. Exit 37 follows in one mile at Nichols Street west and New Douglas Road east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Building of Interstate 55 replaced the intersection of U.S. 66 and New Douglas Road with a diamond interchange. Nichols Street links the freeway with the village center and Livingston Avenue north to Williamson. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 138 at Mt. Olive is referenced as the next destination of Interstate 55 north. Springfield is an hour away. Photo taken 12/20/09.

The third county along Interstate 55 north is reached as motorists cross the Macoupin County line. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Serving Staunton, a city of around 5,000 to the west, Exit 41 is the first of two Macoupin County exits. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Staunton Road becomes Main Street west from Exit 41 into Staunton. Historic U.S. 66 breaks away from Interstate 55 and continues due north 1.5 miles to a split with its original Mount Olive bypass to the west and original alignment to the east along Illinois and 5th Streets through town. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 138 (Lakeview Drive) meets Interstate 55 north within the village of White City in one mile. The state route provides a direct route to downtown Mt. Olive along Main Street to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

West from Exit 44 and White City, Illinois 138 veers northward onto 8th and Central Streets through the city of Benld. The 14-mile route concludes at Illinois 159 near Bunker Hill. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Exit 44 leaves Interstate 55 north for Illinois 138 (Lakeview Drive). Illinois 138 ends at Illinois Street in Mt. Olive. Use the state route east to the second alignment of U.S. 66 (Illinois Street) north for Mother Jones Monument at Mt. Olive Cemetery. The third U.S. 66 alignment, the bypass of Mt. Olive, is just 0.25 miles east of Exit 44. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Historic U.S. 66 remains east independent of Interstate 55 through to Litchfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Northbound motorists enter the west side of Montgomery County ahead of the Airport Trail overpass. Litchfield Municipal Airport comes into view ahead. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Litchfield, a city of around 6,500, is served by six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange (Exit 52) with Illinois 16 in one mile. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 16 stretches across nearly the width of Illinois from near Biggsville, 190 miles east to Ashkum. East of Litchfield, the state route ventures ten miles to Hillsboro and beyond there to the city of Mattoon at Interstate 57. Photo taken 12/20/09.

One half mile south of the Exit 52 ramp departure to Illinois 16. Illinois 16 follows Union Avenue to downtown Litchfield and reaches Gillespie eight miles to the west. Photo taken 12/20/09.

An industrial park and an array of traveler services occupy land along Illinois 16 between Interstate 55 and Historic U.S. 66 (Columbian Boulevard) to the east. U.S. 66 followed two alignments through Litchfield, the four-lane Columbian Boulevard by the airport to the west, and a two-lane alignment (Historic Old Route 66) parallel to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 straddles the western city limits of Litchfield and slowly converges with Historic U.S. 66 to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 directly replaced the final alignment of U.S. 66 from Litchfield north 39 miles to Springfield. Chicago is now 240 miles to the northeast. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A northbound side weigh station follows near the 16th Street / County Road 1600 North overpass, where Historic U.S. 66 ties back into the Interstate 55 frontage road system. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 108 begins at the Exit 60 diamond interchange and journeys west 54 miles to a free ferry across the Illinois River to Kempsville. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Northbound at the Exit 60 off-ramp to Illinois 108 (19th Avenue / County Road 1900 North). Carlinville, the seat of Macoupin County, is a 12-mile drive to the west. Photo taken 12/20/09.

The next northbound exit joins Interstate 55 north with Illinois 48 north & 127 south, three miles west of Raymond. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Both Illinois 48 and 127 begin at Exit 63. The state routes part ways at Raymond, with IL-48 branching northeast to Morrisonville and Taylorville and IL-127 turning south to Hillsboro and Greenville. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Drawing to within one half mile of the Exit 63 diamond interchange with 22nd Avenue near Zanesville. Historic U.S. 66, the westbound side frontage road, leads north from IL-48 & 127 seven miles to Waggoner. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 48 travels 80 miles overall from Exit 63 to Decatur and junction Illinois 54 west of Farmer City. Illinois 127 treks 179 miles south to end at Unity. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 and its companion frontage roads continue north by Waggoner to Farmersville. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Rest areas line both sides of Interstate 55 beyond the Historic U.S. 66 intersection with Goby Avenue west. Photos taken 12/20/09.

Exit 72 with Main Street west and Mine Road east, is one mile ahead at the village of Farmersville. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Crossing Macoupin Creek on the half-mile approach to the Exit 72 folded-diamond interchange at Farmsville. Photo taken 12/20/09.

County Road 17 follows Mine Avenue west from Farmersville to Macoupin County and the Illinois 4 city of Girard. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Vacating the Farmersville area, Interstate 55 becomes the Vince Demuzio Expressway in honor of the Carlinville, Illinois State Senator. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 and adjacent Historic U.S. 66 continue together eight miles to Divernon and 25 miles to Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Montgomery Road lines the boundary between Montgomery and Sangamon Counties above Interstate 55 in this scene. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Divernon, a village of 1,000 or so, is a half mile west of Exit 80 of Interstate 55 along Brown Street. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A diamond interchange facilitates the movements to Interstate 55 and Brown Street at Exit 80. Historic U.S. 66 follows Reichert Road, a southbound side frontage road, to Brown Street. The original four-lane alignment is discontinuous between Exits 80 and 82. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Exit 80 leaves Interstate 55 north for Divernon. Brown Street becomes Divernon Road east and west from town to vast open farm land. Illinois 104 is next in 1.75 miles at the Exit 82 folded-diamond interchange. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 continues north from Divernon to Pawnee Junction. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Three bridges span Brush Creek at this guide sign for Sangchris Lake State Park via Illinois 104 east. The I-55 mainline utilizes 1972-built bridges while Brush Creek Road, a frontage road with no outlet, dates from 1949 as Historic U.S. 66. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A half mile out from the Exit 82 loop ramp to Illinois 104 along Interstate 55 north. IL-104 tallies 106 miles from Quincy to the west and Taylorville to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Historic U.S. 66 resumes as a through route along the west side of Interstate 55. The route follows Frazee Road north from Illinois 104 at Cimic to Glenarm. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Drivers pass over the Illinois & Midland Railroad and adjacent Illinois 104 at the Exit 82 off-ramp. IL-104 ventures six miles west to Auburn, where the original U.S. 66 passes through between Virden and Chatham. Eastward, the state route reaches Pawnee in three miles. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A diamond interchange facilitates movements between Interstate 55 and Old Route 66, just south of the Glenarm community. Historic U.S. 66 splits into two branches at Exit 83. An older alignment meanders east from Glenarm and north to Lake Springfield. The final route of U.S. 66 remains along side Interstate 55 via Frazee Road, Douglas Street, and Palm Road. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Horse Farm Road stems west from Exit 83 and Old Route 66. Burtle Lane nearby to the north is the old U.S. 66 that connected with Douglas Street in Glenarm. The creation of Lake Springfield to the north submerged a portion of the old U.S. 66 to the east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

The scene along Interstate 55 and parallel Historic U.S. 66 (Palm Road) north of their respective crossings above the Chicago & Illinois Midland Railroad. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Historic sites in Springfield, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, are located off Business Loop Interstate 55 & Historic U.S. 66 (6th Street) north into downtown Springfield five miles ahead. Photo taken 12/20/09.

County Road 40 (New City Road) passes over Interstate 55 north at the one mile guide sign for Exit 88 to East Lake Drive and Palm Road (Historic U.S. 66). Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 and Historic U.S. 66 (Palm Road) briefly part ways ahead of the partial-cloverleaf interchange with Lake Shore Drive. U.S. 66 followed what is now Waters Edge Boulevard north from Palm Road to the current Interstate 55 crossing of Lake Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Lake Shore Drive and U.S. 66 once intersected at-grade within the vicinity of this northbound reassurance marker. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Lake Springfield was formed with the building of Spaulding Dam across Sugar Creek during the years of 1931-35.1 Before the lake was created, U.S. 66 followed Cotton Hill Road north of the reservoir and a portion of Lake Shore Drive south of the lake. A portion of original concrete acts as a private driveway off of Lake Shore Drive. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Striped for six lanes, the bridges over Lake Springfield include shoulders on both sides and ornamental lighting. The southbound span was replaced in 2001, followed by the northbound a year later. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Toronto Road serves the University of Illinois at Springfield campus east of the Exit 90 diamond interchange in south Springfield and Woodside to the west. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 shield posted ahead of the Southwind Road (Historic U.S. 66 to the east) overpass. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A remnant from when Interstate 55 doubled as U.S. 66 is the left-hand ramp to Business Loop Interstate 55 (6th Street) north at Exit 92. The business loop provides the connection onto Interstate 72 & U.S. 36 west to Curran, Jacksonville, and Quincy. Photo taken 12/20/09.

This diagrammatical sign outlines the ramp configuration of Exit 92 for Interstate 72 & U.S. 36 west and 6th Street (Business Loop I-55 & Historic U.S. 66) north. Interstate 72 & U.S. 36 east combine with Interstate 55 north for a five-mile overlap to Clear Lake. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interests to the Illinois State Fairgrounds should remain along Interstate 55 north to Sangamon Avenue west in lieu of Business Loop I-55 through Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 north partitions with Business Loop I-55 (6th Street) north. The business loop follows portions of Historic U.S. 66 through Springfield and Sherman, returning to I-55 at Exit 105. Interstate 72 west from Springfield opened as a new freeway for U.S. 36 to Hull on November 22, 1991 and was signed as I-72 after April 22, 1995. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstates 55 north & 72-U.S. 36 east

Interstate 72 & U.S. 36 east combines with I-55 north for 4.9 miles around the southeast side of Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.

The freeway curves northeast by an arm of Lake Springfield as stacks from the City Water, Light & Power (municipal utility for Springfield) plant come into view. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstates 55 north & 72 east veer northward by the City Water, Light & Power plant leading into Exit 94. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Stevenson Drive extends East Lake Drive west from I-55 & 72 with five overall lanes to Business Loop I-55 (Historic U.S. 66) just south of Sixth Street. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Exit 94 loops away from I-55 north & 72 east for Stevenson Drive west and East Lake Drive east. East Lake Drive becomes a part of County Road 43 southward from nearby Spaulding Dam to Olde Carriage Way / Old Route 66. Connections with CR 56 lead motorists east to the village of Rochester. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Illinois 29 ventures northwest from Taylorsville and the 2014-completed Edinburg bypass to meet Interstates 55 & 72 at a full cloverleaf interchange (Exits 96A/B) in one mile. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Exit 96A leaves in one half mile for Illinois 29 south. The state route concludes a 180-mile route at U.S. 51 in Pana. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 72 parts ways with Interstate 55 north in one mile as the freeway reaches Exit 96A. Illinois 29 turns northward onto Dirksen Parkway just west of Exit 96B. Photo taken 12/20/09.

South Grand Avenue stems west from Illinois 29 (Dirksen Parkway) through the residential street grid of Springfield to Washington Park. Interests to the Illinois State Museum are directed onto Exit 96B. Photo taken 12/20/09.

A second full cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between the departing I-72 & U.S. 36 east and the westbound beginning of Illinois 97 (Clear Lake Avenue). IL 97 provides a direct route to Downtown Springfield, which includes a number of points of interest such as the Capitol Complex and the Illinois war memorials. Photo taken 12/20/09.

The final shield assembly for the three-way overlap between I-55 north & I-72 and U.S. 36 east. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 72 resumes an eastward along side U.S. 36 for another 30 miles to Decatur. The freeway ends in 80 miles within the city of Champaign, just beyond I-57. Photo taken 12/20/09.

Interstate 55 north

Interstate 72 & U.S. 36 east split from I-55 north at Exit 98A. The tandem wind northeast for five miles by the villages of Clear Lake and Riverton before turning east to Decatur.
Exit 98B follows onto Illinois 97 (Clear Lake Avenue) west 2.6 miles to Historic U.S. 66 at Downtown Springfield. Photo taken 12/20/09.